Visa Visits

As a multiple-entry business visa holder, I am now required to leave Indonesia every 60 days... thankfully I don't have to undergo all the rig-a-ma-roll of renewing the visa, traveling to Jakarta to have 'bio-data' taken (fingerprinting and photographing), or re-processing myself and my status in Indonesia... AND, I'm hoping to use this as an opportunity to get to some of the other fabulous places in South East Asia!

When people ask me everywhere I've traveled, I often tell them the story of my 'list' upon coming to Indonesia as a volunteer years ago... I had never been to Asia before and had no concept of how big it truly it! I had a list of places I thought that certainly I would travel to by the time my 26-month volunteership was up... it included, in broad, sweeping strokes, such puddle-jumps as "Australia", "Thailand", "Malaysia", "Timor" (and maybe even "Philippines", "Cambodia" and "Vietnam")... ...hahahahaha...

(put on a deep, hollow, dracula laugh.... and try that again...)

... hahaha....

After being in Indonesia mere months, and quickly realizing how HUGE and incredible diverse Indonesia itself was, this list localized considerably, and became a list of provinces and regions within Indonesia that I absolutely had to see. Well, I have not even done as well on that list as I would like to have thought, but I have enjoyed each and every place I have been in this awesome country, which never ceases to amaze. And now, am taking it up a notch, and looking back at my original 'list'!

My first stop: a visa run to Monkey around in Malaysia in March...

Where, in addition to the fireflies at Kampung Kuatan, I had a chance to hang out and commune with the 'silver leaf' monkeys at Kuala Selanggor!  They are much more amiable than those in Bali... no stealing of sunglasses, or being cheeky... these guys are a much more subdued, respectful clan!